For those of you following my blog and wondering where I have been, well I have been helping to paint the set at Huntsville High School for the play Cinderella. It is now complete and opens this weekend. I have not seen it yet, but highly encourage you to go! I had the opportunity to paint with 3 other highly talented women. It was a unique experience in that I had to learn how to paint on such a LARGE scale. Where my tendency is to pay attention to details, those details disappear from the perspective that big is better so the person in the back row can see it. A whole new thought process! I had a blast and may consider volunteering next year. So if you want tickets go to the Huntsville High Theater department and order them. YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS IT!
Be looking for pictures of the set-hopefully I can sneak a few on my blog.

The final project-complete. I felt I needed more work but Sara Beth said your done! Knowing when to stop is another thing I need to work on!!!

Sketch out your picture and block in the main colors. Work the same colors according to their values. The main thing is
"don't think" do this quick. Once you fill in the spaces you will be able to come in and detail the subjects.

Do a value painting so that when you start to paint you have this reference to see if your values of paint colors match.

Last weekend I had the priviledge of taking Sara Beth Fair's workshop at Burrett Museum. She is amazing and full of so many ideas. She is so talented and a wealth of information. I see art and painting in a whole new way.

We had two days full of intense teaching. We learned everything from "seeing" to cleaning up! What we need to make our work space perfect for us. We left overloaded with so many positive ideas I don't remember driving home! (felt like it)

I want to say if you ever have the opportunity to attend her classes do it you will not regret it!

We all try to imitate other painters or try to paint like them but we have to have our own individuality! Create your own style!

Here is a series of what we learned.

Above is the first stage a thumbnail sketch showing values of the "subject". Whether you are painting a still life or plein air do sketches first from different angles to see if there is harmony. Find a focal point!

Lillian's Cross

I was in the mood to paint another cross. A dear sweet lady I work with celebrated her 61st birthday today and in my absentmindedness forgot when it was. So, I painted this for her as a gift. It is actually on a 3x3 mini canvas and I painted the easel it will stand on in a wash of the mustard yellow. I love how it turned out with alot of texture. This picture really does not do it justice. I hope she likes it!

Studio Atelier Challenge

I was fortunate to learn about this new blog with monthly challenges. Its always fun to see h0w they turn out as well as see how others do. This is a snowy road with shadows. I found it hard to keep the perspective and make the shadows.